FMM expresses its serious concern and alarm at the incredible turn of events that have occurred in the aftermath of the episode in which Minister Mervyn Silva attempted to intimidate officials of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) through physical violence and verbal abuse on 27th December 2007. On that occasion Minister Silva’s well-known proclivity to threaten media freedom through the use of thuggery was resisted by the journalists and staff of the SLRC, in a spontaneous demonstration of solidarity against, and resistance to political violence against journalists and media personnel.

What has happened since then is cause for grave disquiet in respect of the freedom of expression, media freedom and independence, and the integrity of democratic institutions and democracy in Sri Lanka. FMM believes that Minister Silva’s behaviour, both on well-documented previous occasions as well as the instant, is prima facie cause for summary dismissal under any democratic dispensation, and in respect of which the responsibility lies squarely with the President. This is even more so given that apart from Mervyn Silva’s ministerial office, he also sits in Parliament at the pleasure of the President as a National List Member of Parliament appointed by the President in his capacity as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

However, the President appears to have adopted an attitude wholly at odds with the public revulsion Minister Silva’s conduct has provoked throughout Sri Lanka. According to news reports and reliable sources, the President has communicated his displeasure in very strong terms to the senior management of the SLRC for having live telecast the events of last Thursday (leading to self-censorship by SLRC news management in reporting on the incident in subsequent SLRC news bulletins), and instigated an investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) against the media personnel at SLRC. Astoundingly, the President has not shown the same commitment to accountability with regard to his own Minister, against whom no disciplinary action whatsoever has so far been taken, in a trend that would seem to indicate no action will be taken in the future either.

FMM, together with all Sri Lankans committed to liberty, human rights and democratic institutions, is appalled by the course of conduct adopted by the President in which he has now become the focus of attention in respect of bad governance, maladministration, and of defending the indefensible. We are at a loss to understand how the President can, with good conscience, persecute journalists of the SLRC whilst shielding his errant Minister, in blatant violation of every applicable democratic ethic. FMM emphatically calls upon the President to desist from the persecution of journalists and instead devote his efforts to discipline Minister Silva forthwith, in the discharge of his constitutional duty to uphold fundamental rights and the democratic way of life of all Sri Lankans. FMM hopes that disciplinary action against Minister Silva will accompany the necessary criminal investigations and prosecutions that must ensue from his behaviour, if the integrity of the Rule of Law and public confidence in democratic institutions are to be upheld.

In a broader policy context, FMM notes that this episode has once again shown in stark terms the wholly unacceptable level of politicisation that afflicts state-owned public media institutions. FMM strongly believes that neither the President nor indeed Minister Silva would have adopted the attitudes they have, had the independence and autonomy of the principal public television broadcaster in Sri Lanka been legally assured and guaranteed.

FMM is firmly of the view that even the current statutory scheme governing the SLRC contemplates a public service broadcaster, not an instrument of propaganda for the government in power for the time being. Unfortunately, the SLRC and other state-owned and operated media institutions have since their inception been consistently abused by all political parties holding power for partisan advantage. This episode therefore reinforce the calls made by FMM and partner organisations on the critical need for fundamental legal and constitutional reforms so as to divest state ownership of print media institutions and to re-establish state broadcasting institutions as truly public service broadcasters. FMM also notes that the President himself has acknowledged the need for reforms in these directions in discussions with FMM in August 2007, and calls upon him to implement the same. We are ready to assist the government with these reforms if the government is serious and sincere about undertaking them.

FMM calls upon all concerned here and abroad to stand in solidarity with the media personnel of the SLRC, and against the anti-democratic and unconscionable behaviour of politicians abusing public-owned and taxpayer-funded institutions for illegitimate ends.

3 Responses

[…] any meaningful steps against the MP Mervyn de Silva’s reprehensible behaviour. As we note in our statement of 31st December 2007, FMM, together with all Sri Lankans committed to liberty, human rights and democratic institutions, […]

[…] The presence of a Police vehicle at the time of the attempted abduction raises, among other vital concerns, grave questions on the impartiality of investigations underway to look into the outrageous affront to media freedom involving Government MP Mervyn de Silva recently. Rather than disciplining the Minister, the Government, President, State machinary and underworld elements now all seem to now openly target journalists who stood up to the thuggish behaviour of the Minister and his brutish hen…. […]

[…] behaviour of the unfortunately animated lump of bovine excrement that is Mervyn Silva and its incredible aftermath is another indication that the President himself is scarce interested in any sort of action that […]